Re Unite-Ted WIP 2

What better way could there be to spend a cold, windy, rainy day than creating such a happy smiling face. He lifts my spirits on this gloomy day and makes me smile back at him as I bring his features to life on the paper. 

 I secretly think the brush tickles his nose and thats why he is grinning at me. I know... my imagination gets carried away sometimes.

 I still have a long way to go shaping his face but I couldn't resist sharing his smile with you today. 

Ona

Re Unite-Ted WIP1

 I'm working on another Ted themed painting at the moment.

 I had this wonderful reference of another of the volunteers at the local pioneer village that has been on my 'to paint' list for a while now ( I just loved his smiling face). Whenever we visit the village I always like to go and chat to this old gentleman. He has such wonderful stories of his life, particularly his childhood and he relates his memories with such life and animation so he seemed the obvious subject for this particular Ted word painting.

I have now finished the background apart from a couple of washes which will go over both the subjects and background and today began working on the man's face. It's such a delight bringing his character to life as I begin underpinning his features. Of course, I had to begin with his eyes. Don't they just ooze mischief and delight even at this early stage.

I wanted the background to become his memory, in essance a metaphorical tunnel back to his childhood and to mirror so many of our feelings about growing older. It is symbolic of life really because when we are children, we are so eager to forsake what represents youth and grow up. In contrast when we are older something like looking at a much loved teddy makes us yearn with fond memories for those innocent times once more and make us wish we hadn't been in such a hurry to become an adult.

Ona

Ted series on cards!

I've had a lot of people asking about cards of my 'Ted' paintings, so I have created deluxe archival quality cards of the first 8 in the series.

This is a photo of the first complete set hot off the press individually bagged and ready to sell.  Each are printed on archival paper, have paper inserts and have the stories/information about them on the back of each card. The large cards are 8.5 by 5.5 inches. The panoramic cards are 9 by 4 inches in size.

They make a great collection don't they!

My initial aim was to be able to sell them as individual cards locally but I know many people have asked from much further afield so I have priced up some special packages for you all.

Option 1.... 8 cards (one of each design above) each individually packaged with an envelope and in its own crystal clear bag

 Canada and the US: $49 including shipping
 International: $55 including shipping

Options 2 and 3...gift boxed sets of cards

Option 2..... A gift boxed Pack of 9 panoramic cards ( 3 each of the 3 different panoramic designs in each box)

Canada and the US: $46 including shipping
International: $49 including shipping

 Option 3..... A gift boxed pack of 10 large cards ( 2 each of the 5 different large card designs in each box)

Canada and the US: $60 including shipping
International: $67 including shipping

Send an e mail to ona@onak.ca if you are interested in any of these options.

Ona

Cheap Joe's Art Stuff Award

I have had some more exciting news!

My painting 'Dream Catcher' received the Cheap Joe's Art Stuff Award at the 44th Annual Watercolor West International Juried Exhibition.

Thank you Marilyn Wear for taking the photograph for me and congratulations on your award too.

The exhibition opened a couple days ago and continues until December 16th so if you are within travelling distance of the Brea Gallery CA, do visit. If you are not able to go you can enjoy a selection of the exhibition on line by going to the Brea Gallery's facebook page Here

Ona

Studio Tour News!

It's always great to be able to place that magic read dot on the painting label.  'Fast food fly through' my painting of the magical hummingbirds sold today.

It is also lovely to get so much positive feedback from people who enjoyed looking at my work. 

Thank you to so many of my friends locally who popped in to say hi over the weekend. It was so lovely to actually meet in person a couple of my blog readers for the first time too. Now I can put faces to names. Thank you for travelling all that way to come and see me and my work.

Ona

California Watercolor Association 43rd National Exhibition Acceptance!

I am very pleased to let you all know that 'Time Warp' has been accepted into the California Watercolor Association 43rd National Exhibition. 

It will be held at the historic Harrington Gallery in the Firehouse Art Center in Pleasanton, CA and will run from January 17, 2013 to February 16, 2013.

Ona

Visit me at the Richmond Hill Studio Tour!

Today was set up day for the Richmond Hill Studio Tour which takes place this weekend. Here is a sneak preview of my space at Boynton Bouse, 1300 Elgin Mills East Richmond Hill. I have 24 original watercolours on exhibition. The Studio tour is open on Saturday and Sunday between 10am and 5 pm.

Ona

Watercolor Artist Magazine has arrived!

The December issue of the Watercolor Artist Magazine that I am featured in arrived in the mail today. It feels very special to be featured in it. Thank you Birgit O'Connor for nominating me :)

  
Thank you also to all of my readers here who have encouraged me over the last couple years.

Ona

Let's face it...Life's a puzzle!

 Life can be a bit of a puzzle sometimes, especially when you are young :)

I have been asked to do a demo early next month on portraiture.  I only have  an hour and a half for the demo so rather than rush through everything I am going to focus on eyes as they really are the key to a successful portrait.

I painted this small fun painting last week while show sitting at the exhibition to illustrate how eyes really help to convey emotion and tell a story even when the rest of the face is obscured. I wanted to capture that slightly bewildered look in the young child's eyes.  I added the puzzle pieces to demonstrate how you can even take a simple exercise such as painting eyes and make it into a fun and meaningful piece of art with a little imagination :)

Ona

One's to Watch 2012 promotional release

 I was sent the promotional release for the watercolor Artist Magazine 'One's to Watch' feature yesterday

Announcing Watercolor Artistʼs 2012 “Ones to Watch”

Few stories generate as much excitement around the Watercolor Artist offices as the annual “Ones to Watch” feature, published each year in the December issue. In May, the Watercolor Artist editors send out a call to longtime artist friends, asking for the names of students they think show exceptional promise or talented painters who theyʼve recently encountered by way of an exhibition theyʼve juried. The staff then solicits work from each of the nominated artists. Once all the images are in, the editors begin to highlight the standouts.

Editor Kelly Kane looks forward to spotting new talent. “Our goal is to identify up-andcoming watercolor artists who demonstrate both technical skill and unique qualities of self-expression, but who might not otherwise have come to our attention for a few more years; artists we can catch early and watch as they continue to hone their styles and techniques; artists who can teach us all something about commitment, drive and belief in oneʼs self and oneʼs work,” she says.

Congratulations to the 2012 Watercolor Artist “Ones to Watch:”

Bill Bailey | Oakland, Tennessee
Cheng Fen Yeh | Radford, Virginia
Cindy Evans | Williamston, Michigan
Donna Morrison | Tampa, Florida
Joseph Stoddard | Pasadena, California
Lane Hall | Medford, Oregon
Mary Barnett | Boulder, Colorado
Ona Kingdon | Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
Robin Erickson | Fallbrook, California
Suzanne Reed Fine | Columbus, Georgia

Read more about these artists—and why they were nominated by the top watermedia instructors and exhibition jurors—in the December 2012 issue of Watercolor Artist, available on newsstands Oct. 23, 2012, or in digital format at northlightshop.com.

I can't wait to see how they used what I sent them to write the feature... It's going to be a long few weeks :)

Ona

People's Choice award and signature membership!

Awards from Jurors are wonderful to receive but there is something very special about winning the people's Choice award... I guess because it is the vote of the people so thank you everyone who voted for my paintings..

I am very happy to let you all know that  'Primal warmth' based on the Wenden long house at St. Marie among the Hurons has won the people's choice award from the Impressions 2012 Exhibition which took place last week at Boynton house.

 During the week I also received my BWS signature status from the Mayor of Richmond Hill

Thank you Mayor Barrow for taking the time to present the awards.

Ona

Dis orienta-Ted

This was just SO much fun to create :)

I wanted it to be colourful and to have a mischievious childlike fun element to it... something that would catch the eye with its quirkiness and encourage the viewer to stop and think... to not accept anything as given but to question everything just as Ted is doing.

Ona

Dis orienta-Ted WIP 3

I've now finished the background and just have the girl, poor Disorienta-Ted and his hat which, from this way around, is falling away to the right hand side of the painting, left to paint.

Can you find the other confused Ted's hiding in the background? I promise I will post some closeups once the painting is finished to make it easier to see all the fun elements :)

Ona

Disorienta-Ted WIP 2

I've been working away at the background over the last few days morphing one angle of perspective into another. It's mind blowing at times, especially working on lighting direction, but a lot of fun too.

I thought you might enjoy seeing my progress so far. The big question is though... which way is up? or  more importantly for Ted if he were dropped and fell, which way is down! Is it you the viewer? would he fall right into your arms? Or would he fall onto the floor?

or if he is being held up in the air maybe sideways is down?

 

of course he may even fall right into the sky!

It does make me think... Which way am I going to actually hang the finished painting? I'm ahead of myself though... time to get back to painting :)

Ona

Which way is which???

Disorienta-Ted WIP1

Ever had days when you feel like life is just too confusing? like you aren't sure what is going to happen next?

 I think we have all had these days... moments when you feel like even the basic things in life should not be taken for granted. You take a step forward and are just thankful that the floor is still there beneath your feet. These days, although hard, teach us to value the simple little things that too often we take for granted.
 
 But what if the floor isnt where you think it is! I thought this would be such a fun idea to explore in  my next -Ted themed painting. 

Poor Disorientat-Ted is more than a little confused and, believe me,  he wasn't the only one as I tried to wrap my brain around the changes in perspective I needed to create for my outline to work. 

 Maybe you can help Ted out. Look closely at my outline and see you you can work it out...He is being lifted up in the air isn't he???.... but wait a moment.... why is there a hot air balloon going up sideways? and aren't the windows on the wall sideways too?

maybe he is being held this way up instead?

...but then... eeek!he would fall right into the open window in a vertical wall!!! No wonder he is looking more than a little shocked..that just can't be right!

playing with single point perspective doesnt have to be boring :)

I have actually used three different angles of perspective for this painting, each of which morph into the other.

 Sorry about the lack of contrast in these photos. My pencil markings are very light so I have to reduce the contrast in them to get the image to show up for you at all. Hopefully you will discover more of the quirkiness of this painting as I begin to add the colour :) Just remember which way is up and where the floor is in reality.... I don't want YOU falling over while to try to work out which way is up in the painting!

Ona